DUOT vs UNP vs KO vs CSX vs NSC

For growth investors, Duos Technologies Group, Inc.

(DUOT) is the stronger pick with 271. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -3. 1% for CSX Corporation (CSX). Union Pacific Corporation (UNP) offers the better valuation at 22. 8x trailing P/E (21. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Duos Technologies Group, Inc. (DUOT) a "Buy" — based on 3 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, Union Pacific Corporation (UNP) is the cheapest at 22.

8x versus CSX Corporation at 30. 9x. On forward P/E, Union Pacific Corporation is actually cheaper at 21. 6x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: The Coca-Cola Company wins at 2. 26x versus CSX Corporation's 4. 86x.

Over the past 5 years, The Coca-Cola Company (KO) delivered a total return of +65.

6%, compared to +10. 1% for Duos Technologies Group, Inc. (DUOT). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CSX returned +480. 2% versus DUOT's -58. 6%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), The Coca-Cola Company (KO) is the lower-risk stock at -0.

20β versus Duos Technologies Group, Inc. 's 2. 73β — meaning DUOT is approximately -1464% more volatile than KO relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Duos Technologies Group, Inc. (DUOT) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 10% versus 172% for Union Pacific Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Duos Technologies Group, Inc.

(DUOT) is pulling ahead at 271. 2% versus -3. 1% for CSX Corporation (CSX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Duos Technologies Group, Inc. grew EPS 54. 0% year-over-year, compared to -14. 0% for CSX Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, DUOT leads at 21. 6% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Union Pacific Corporation (UNP) is the more profitable company, earning 29.

1% net margin versus -36. 4% for Duos Technologies Group, Inc. — meaning it keeps 29. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: UNP leads at 40. 1% versus -36. 1% for DUOT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — KO leads at 61. 6%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, The Coca-Cola Company (KO) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 2. 26x versus CSX Corporation's 4. 86x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, Union Pacific Corporation (UNP) trades at 21. 6x forward P/E versus 292. 0x for Duos Technologies Group, Inc. — 270. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for DUOT: 45. 5% to $17. 00.

In this comparison, KO (2.

5% yield), UNP (2. 0% yield), NSC (1. 7% yield), CSX (1. 1% yield) pay a dividend. DUOT does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, The Coca-Cola Company (KO) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β -0.

20), 2. 5% yield, +121. 1% 10Y return). Duos Technologies Group, Inc. (DUOT) carries a higher beta of 2. 73 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (KO: +121. 1%, DUOT: -58. 6%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

These companies operate in different sectors (DUOT (Technology) and UNP (Industrials) and KO (Consumer Defensive) and CSX (Industrials) and NSC (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: DUOT is a small-cap high-growth stock; UNP is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; KO is a large-cap quality compounder stock; CSX is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; NSC is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. UNP, KO, CSX, NSC pay a dividend while DUOT does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.